Don't do what I did !

Last year,I bought new covers for my Growhouse..a strong outer one,and an inner Fleece as well.Both together,they protected all my plants well,and no losses,so naturally I thought it was a good buy..
However,I left it in place all summer,but both were left open..which I thought would be ok…
Obviously not!!
The inner fleece completely disintegrated
with the heat it must have had under the waterproof plastic…so I should have removed it till needed again this coming winter..

I have improvised ,as I’m not going to buy another one,so all the Polystyrene packaging from new furniture,is lining the shelves instead..and I have just cut to fit..luckily the width was just right,so I only had to take a couple of inches off the depth..

This is what it looks like now,,with only the zips remaining from the inner lining..:o)..and my new frost protectors..

My other Growhouse is now out of the loft,and in the Conservatory for overwintering more tender plants…I have made a start,and but there will be more to fill the shelves later…

I bet you didn’t know I could grow a Farmhouse complete with a jar of farm Animals,on the bottom shelf ,did you ? Lol..Well ,I have to find somewhere for Thomas’s toys :o))

Comments

I so admire your resourcefulness - if there is such a word!!
You have made a great job of solving that little problem and it looks as good as new Bloomer.
I guess you heat your conservatory in the winter?

Think you have to start a bit earlier that us down here B. but you never know, I have started bringing in 'things' and covering things too and taken cuttings etc. Don't think you can do it too early. I like your little shelf and your homefarm seems to be coming along just fine! Lol

What a great idea for unwanted Polystyrene Sandra hope it does the trick, Ive just started to bring plants in onto the utility room window shelving, mainly Fuchsia cuttings, Begoias and Gerainiums, just wish it would dry up a a little so I can really get to work outside;0)

Thanks Chris,I always save Polystyrene..Russell gets fed up of it all in the loft,but it always comes in for something..:o) 'We do have a Radiator in the Conservatory,but it doesn't really make much difference..it's still jolly cold in there,so it's a used as a greenhouse in winter..
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I agree,Gmage,.and still so mild outside yet,so I can't bear to pot many up yet,as they still look so good outside..Those I have already done were in a pot..Were you meaning the wood effect one,when you said shelf? it's the window sill,as I didn't want white UPVC,as they show the scratches too much :o) The Homefarm is being used just now,so it's back in the lounge :o) Farmer Thomas is here for tea Lol.Thank you for your nice comment x
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Thanks Carole,I'm sure it will be fine,as I haven't too much to keep in it this year..it wasn't worth buying another cover..time will tell,won't it? :o) you are so lucky to have all that shelving in your Utility room..
Lots of rain here too,but it has cleared into lovely afternoons till today :o( x

Well, I carefully folded all the fleece and stored in a box in the shed.....I haven't got it out yet - I wonder what I'll find!!!!
I hope the polystyrene works for you Bloomer. Don't you just hate costly lessons!

Ah Bloomer, I found the same problem, to my cost, but aren't you a resourceful? I shouldn't be surprised at that should I?
DON'T throw the fleece away, whatever you do, you can still throw it over the plants if things get really cold.

I don't ever throw anything away,that I think would come in useful in the garden,Waddy..or for anything else much for that matter:o) I still have lots of old fleece,like Kath has, .that will be used to cover crowns of Fuchsia's with a good mulch under it..and held down with stones..I even hand washed it from last year ! how sad or tight,is that? Lol. ..did you ever start collecting those plastic food trays ?? :o)))x

I love polystyrene Bloomer and ive used it for years..especially in my cold frame...I also line the shelves in the greenhouse with it and store Dahlias in Polystyrene boxes....I ask everyone to keep it for me...(cheeky)....:>)

Shame the fleece disintegrated but what a good idea to use Polystyrene liners on the shelves will you use it to stand up at the back as well? How clever to grow a farm and animals in your conservatory, Thomas has such a clever Grandma! :o)

More than likely,Neena..the next time OH goes up in the loft..which should be very soon . He has to take Thomas's car seat up,as he has grown out of it,and we have just bought a booster one..I will listen out for the sound of the loft ladder being lowered.. :o) We had to keep an eye on the sheep and pigs tonight,as the Lions were put in the same pen..red alert time :o) Clever Grandma? just going with the flow,like you :o)

Well what a waste of money that lining was. You'd think they'd be more durable than that !
I'm glad to see the outer one has lasted though, and I hope your polystyrene shelves will help protect your plants this winter.

Me too, and also the plastic boxes that supermarket meat comes in. I use them for emergency pot saucers (though not very pretty) and with holes in they good for sowing stuff like beans and sweet peas that have long roots. Well done for washing your fleece - a woman after my own heart. Us northerners need to stick together!
Driad, please share your uses for plastic trays?

I knew you were clever enough to grow a farm ... cleverclogs:-) I keep all bubble wrap and use it to line pots etc and I've used it to make a portable greenhouse ...well that's what I called it. I save polystyrene too for pot drainage and insulation, must be cos I'm a northerner:-))

It certainly was Hywel..but we live and learn..:o) I keep finding bits on the path,as the rest of it drops off ! gives me something to do,I guess Lol.Saying that though,I've been outside all day,and got all my Pelargoniums,and Begonias potted up ,so I feel quite smug .they are staying inside,and will keep the farm company :o)
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Ha ha,Waddy..yes,you need to worry..but in a caring way,I hope :o) I bet you don't have a soggy pedal bin anymore though Lol..x
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Great aren't they Driad? and lots of them can't be recycled either,so we are doing our bit :o)
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I agree Sue..they have lots of uses,don't they? once a Northern lass,and all that :o)
I often wonder what my Neighbours think,when they see fleece pegged on the line..They probably think they are my curtains ! All ragged around the edges too Lol.
they will be giving me food parcels next :o)
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Good on yer,Ba..I wonder if we will ever end up on one of those progrmmes about Hoarders? ..The farm has grown about an inch today,must be the warm sunshine :o)

Thanks Rose..I find it so useful.It was only a cheap one from B &M a few years ago,as I bought it to grow Tomato's or green Beans in it..which I don't do anymore..so I decided to use it to overwinter..It isn't as strong as my other one,but it serves it's purpose ..and today,it is full ! Hope it has solved your problem :o)

I covered my plastic greenhouse with a large plastic bag last year.Everything was ok, so I shall do the same this year.Got loads of bubble wrap ready tho.... just in case. never thought of saving polystrene.... thanks for the tip Sandra.

Hope that everything is battened down for tonight , everyone !
Stera , the trays are saved "just in case ". The latest fruit ones that I've horded look like they will be good for planting seeds , they have holes in the bottom and lids attached .

I get told off for hoarding things but its surprisng how much money I have saved over the years when improvising in my g'houses, also money saved in that way means more living things for the garden, lol..

Exactly Sue..and I had so many plastic plant pots of all shapes and sizes, stored in a box,which I would never have reused in a month of Sundays..I'm sure they breed ! Lol.i had a good sort out and kept about half of them..the reat were taken to our local NT to help plant all the Heathers they grow to regenerate our Moors,which were badly damaged by morons on quad bikes,and setting it alight,a few years ago..I'm sure there will be plenty more another year :o)

I swear you're right about the breeding, I've never thought to check out places to donate them, I did see a bin in one of the garden centres that you can take them to for recycling but darned if I can remember which one and anyway I'd never remember to take them with me, if having a trip to such places I only have in mind whats coming home not t'other way round, lol....

Nope ! don't use nail varnish now,Shirley...I used to enjoy peeling it off though..especially when it came off in one piece ,and I used to scratch the rest off..or a tissue to get the bits off round the edges..even for my daughter as a baby,OH had to use it :o) x

Don't start on the pots and seed trays !
They certainly do have a sneaky way of multiplying and taking up lots of space , but they could never go in the bin . (OH would put them in if I didn't keep a close eye .)